Biography
Watson was part of the Watson Family, renowned in early Hollywood for being a household of child actors. He was the brother of Coy Watson Jr., Harry, Billy, Delmar, Garry, Vivian, Gloria, and Louise, all of whom appeared in films.
Known as "the first family of Hollywood," the Watsons lived near Echo Park in Los Angeles, and Bobs attended nearby Belmont High School.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored the family by placing a Watson family star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6674 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California.
Watson is best remembered for his role as "Pee Wee" in the 1938 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Boys Town and its 1941 sequel Men of Boys Town, both starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. During the filming of the first movie, Watson and Tracy became close friends, and Watson was reportedly Tracy's final visitor before his passing in 1967. In 1939, Watson gave a moving performance as Pud, the grandson of Lionel Barrymore's character, in the MGM film On Borrowed Time. Later, he appeared as a guest on numerous television shows, including The Twilight Zone, Lou Grant, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and The Fugitive.
Beyond his film career, Watson pursued studies at Claremont School of Theology to become a Methodist minister, inspired by the movie Boys Town. He served for 30 years in Burbank and La Cañada, California, before retiring.
He passed away from prostate cancer in 1999 in Laguna Beach, California.
